It hits every writer sooner or later: what should I write about when I’m stuck?
It’s late in the day, the cursor is blinking, and your ideas have quietly slipped out the door. You might be working on a book, trying to finish a blog post, or staring down a content marketing deadline. The form doesn’t matter. What matters is that familiar moment when your mind feels empty, and every sentence feels forced.
If this sounds familiar, take a breath. It happens to everyone who writes, and far more often than most writers admit. You’re not running out of ability or talent. You’re simply struggling to see what’s already around you. Writing ideas don’t disappear; sometimes we just look for them in the wrong places.
Over the years, I’ve learned one important thing: there’s no such thing as writer’s block. What feels like being stuck is usually just a signal to shift your thinking, change your angle, or look elsewhere for inspiration. Do that, and the words almost always start flowing again.
Running Out of Ideas? Here’s What I Do
I love to write. Perhaps I should say that I love writing. But the difference between the infinitive and the gerund is a different story altogether.
What matters most is that I write every single day. I’m getting on a bit, but I can usually churn out 1,000 words a day, at least.
I also adore the new technology that makes writing a pleasure and so much easier.
Yes, I still occasionally use pen and paper, like I did in high school, though those moments are rare these days.
My habits, however, haven’t changed. I’ve always noted down little ideas; tiny sparks of inspiration that could grow into something bigger.
Ideas might strike me while walking the dog, watching the world go by from my balcony, or sitting in a café observing people as they pass.
These days, I mostly use my phone to capture notes or jot down journal entries.
You could scour the Internet for lists of writing prompts, but I find my own collection works just as well.
It’s a long, little list of real-life events, observations, and little curiosities that are perfect for finding what to write about when I’m stuck.
I Can Find Inspiration All The Time
Just this morning, I waited second in line behind a couple at a medical center reception. Four or five people were waiting patiently and silently behind me.
The man in front of me had a big white cast on what was obviously a badly broken left leg. He handed his crutches to his wife and rested his elbows on the reception desk to take his weight.
His wife leaned his crutches up against the front of the reception desk without looking. She was more interested in what her husband was saying to the receptionist.
They were not quite at 90 degrees. The crutches crashed to the floor within a few seconds with a loud clatter and bang.
Her husband glanced across from his conversation with the receptionist as his wife picked up the crutches.
She peeped around at the people in the queue behind her.
She smiled embarrassedly at no one as her eyes flitted from the ceiling to the people. But mostly, they were aimed at the ceiling.
As she did, she placed the crutches back in the same position from which they had fallen.
Of course, they crashed loudly to the floor again. This time, the husband hobbled from his position and picked up the crutches.
He deposited them firmly in an umbrella stand a few feet away. He grunted as he limped back to continue his conversation with the receptionist.
His wife looked around at no one again and smiled at the ceiling.
I made a note on my phone. “When things go wrong, smile, and survey the ceiling.”
It was nothing. But it might come in handy one day. Perhaps for a short story or a scene in a book, when I want to describe an embarrassing situation.
That was a very long way of saying this. Making notes about what you see is a fantastic resource for writing ideas.
When I’m Stuck, I Sometimes Steal
I love to read news articles and blog posts. They are a rich source of topics.
I don’t steal content, that’s for sure. But I sometimes take ideas.
There are millions of blog posts published every day of the year. So there are a lot of new topic ideas out there to discover.
Now, I certainly don’t read all of them. I have a bookmarked list of blogs in my subject area and often check what new content they have added.
Sometimes I use Google, which is a vast resource.
Often, I get a great list of fantastic writing ideas.
I found “what to write about,” and I thought, hey, I enjoy writing, so I think I know something about the topic.
So, I’m writing about it now.
I don’t steal all the time. Honestly, I can come up with my own ideas.
Looking at what others are writing about is a great way to stimulate your mind. But then you need to modify those ideas into your own.
You can look back at your previous posts for ideas to extend or expand upon. Adding a lot more content or making an old blog post clear and easy to read is still productive writing.
Ideas Are All Around You
Forget about all the old hat writing prompts, like a time you failed or a family member, are best left well behind you.
Look at what is happening around you now. Take notice of how people behave and react in all types of situations. Think about what you think they are thinking.
Take note of the questions people ask. Social media and your blog comments are full of great clues for blog article ideas.
Here’s another method I use for blog topics. I always jot down a note when I learn how to do something new.
I learned how to easily create CSS code for a website quite recently. And yes, of course, I wrote a how-to article about it.
But for fiction, take notice of what you see, feel, and imagine.
Lie on your back and look up at the stars and the moon on a clear night. What would you imagine if you saw a shooting star?
Your local newspaper is another tremendous source of ideas. If you are writing crime and detective, local court reports often have bizarre cases that are ripe for fiction.
Celebrity stories can be wild and wacky stuff. Who dreams up these stories?
If you are writing romance, perhaps you could use some of them as ideas to get your imagination working in overdrive.
And if you’re really desperate, well, there’s always an AI tool like ChatGPT or Gemini now to help you brainstorm.
Stop, Look, Listen, And Make A Note
If you are wondering what things to write about right now, stop thinking and take a look around you.
Take it one step at a time. What can you see? Can you hear something? What can you smell? How do you feel? Make a few notes.
Where’s your note list?
Check your notebook or your notes app on your phone. Oh no, you don’t have a list?
Well, it’s time to get to work on starting one.
Related Reading: Procrastinate And Prevaricate Are Alike But Not The Same
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